After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 552 Ten Years
Su Tai nodded repeatedly, "Yes! If you can leave, you should leave sooner! It's better to be far from the emperor and free than to stay in the capital and live in fear. What about you? Can you leave?"

Shen Yi shook his head regretfully, "I'm afraid I can't go back. If you want to go back, I can have someone send you back."

Su Tai was very disappointed, but she still gritted her teeth and stayed. "Wherever you are, I will be. We are husband and wife, and we will never be separated."

The couple decided to settle down and "live a peaceful life" in the capital, but Liu Laosan's "old illness" relapsed, and he took the initiative to retire and return to his hometown.

The two panicked upon hearing the news and immediately went to Liu Laosan's courtyard.

"Godfather, what's wrong?" Shen Yi looked at Liu Laosan, whose face was pale, and then glanced at the two imperial physicians who were treating him. His brows furrowed.

The imperial physician respectfully replied, "Lord Shen, the Marquis suffered greatly in his early years. If not for his strong constitution, he wouldn't have been able to endure until now. Now, this old ailment has relapsed with great force. From now on, he needs to rest and recuperate, without worry or anxiety, only then will the pain subside. If this continues, I fear..."

Before the imperial physician could finish speaking, Shen Yi had already guessed what he meant. He immediately knelt down before the physician, pleading, "Please, you must save my godfather."

The imperial physician quickly helped Shen Yi up, carefully explained some precautions, and then left.

With tears in his eyes, Shen Yi personally escorted the imperial physician out.

Just as Su Tai was about to speak, she saw Liu Laosan winking at her. The sadness in her heart instantly froze, and her eyes widened in shock.

When it was almost time, Liu Laosan had the steward help him get down from the ground.

The butler quietly brought over a pot of roast chicken and served it to Old Liu so he could enjoy it.

When Shen Yi returned, he witnessed this scene and was so shocked that his eyes almost popped out of his head. "Godfather, the imperial physician said that you should avoid oily and greasy foods, so why did you eat roast chicken!"

Liu Laosan rolled his eyes. "I'm perfectly healthy! I'm going to go all out with this act. I haven't eaten anything since the palace banquet started. If you don't let me eat, you're trying to starve me to death!"

"A performance?" Shen Yi was a little confused.

Su Tai, standing to the side, was also puzzled.

Liu Laosan sighed and explained, "Although the Emperor appreciates the merits I made before, you have all seen how the Emperor reacted when the Second Prince rebelled."

The palace banquet was a warning to others, meant to make everyone see the truth. I've seen it, but the Third Prince and Fourth Prince might not. Being in that position makes them easy targets. What if they try to win me over after this storm passes? How am I supposed to refuse?"

He had suffered a lot in order to refuse the Second Prince, and his old bones could no longer withstand the torment.

Shen Yi and Su Tai exchanged glances, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Liu Laosan continued, "The best way now is to use the Second Prince's rebellion as an excuse to say that I was injured and that my old illness was aggravated, so that I won't even be able to live a life of leisure and wealth in the future."

Tomorrow I will go to the palace to ask the Emperor to allow me to return to my hometown. The Emperor will surely consider our past relationship and grant my request.

I am not in the capital, so you will have to rely on yourselves. But that's alright. As long as you are loyal to the Emperor, do things meticulously, and don't pretend to be stupid instead of currying favor, you have been doing this for the past year. I'm sure everyone's impression of you is already deeply ingrained.

The Third and Fourth Princes probably won't actively try to win you over; just follow the Emperor's orders.

As he spoke, Liu Laosan looked at Su Tai and earnestly advised, "I know you like doing business, but you should be more restrained in the capital. If I'm not mistaken, the money you've accumulated could easily allow your whole family to squander for four or five generations!"

Su Tai smiled awkwardly, "Godfather, it's not that exaggerated. It will only last for fifty or sixty years at most." Liu Laosan rolled his eyes and didn't argue with her.

The three discussed the situation in the capital, and Su Tai's unease gradually dissipated.

The next day, Liu Laosan went to the palace and sat with the emperor for half a day. After returning, he began packing his luggage.

After the Ghost Festival.

Liu Laosan traveled light, accompanied only by a few old servants who had been with him for many years, and joined the caravan.

Years have passed in the blink of an eye, from the changing seasons to the passing of winter.

Many things happened in these ten years. The third and fourth princes were intimidated by the emperor's ruthlessness. They used to be very lively, but in the end they became so obedient that they didn't even dare to fart.

Whenever ministers in the court petitioned the emperor to establish an heir apparent, these two would be frightened and eventually simply followed the example of those纨绔 (wan ku, spoiled brats) and idled away their days indulging in cockfighting, dog fighting, and frequenting brothels and theaters.

The ministers could no longer stand it and impeached the two princes.

The two ignored it, figuring that at most the emperor would just scold them and wouldn't really do anything to them.

As time went on, the court officials gave up. The sixth prince was disabled and no one cared for him. The ninth prince was still young and they were not considering him for the time being.

The imperial court was entirely under the emperor's control.

During this period, the Empress Dowager passed away, and the court ordered that no one could marry for three years. Su Tai followed the example of other noblewomen and fasted at home, successfully avoiding marriage for three years.

Now that the three-year mourning period has ended, families have begun to visit each other more frequently.

Su Tai received a visiting card from the Sixth Prince's concubine early in the morning, which startled her so much that she was wide awake. She hurriedly asked Yu Mei to help her wash up and get dressed.

Shen Tian stepped into the Yong'an Marquis's residence again after many years, her heart filled with countless emotions. When she saw Su Tai coming from the corridor, her eyes welled up with tears. Before Su Tai could bow, she went up to her first and said, "Sister-in-law, please don't stand on ceremony. How have you all been these years?"

It sounds ironic, but Shen Tian really hadn't seen Su Tai for several years, especially during the three years of national mourning when there wasn't even a New Year's Eve banquet, so they didn't even have the only chance to meet.

Su Tai dismissed everyone around her, took Shen Tian's hand, and asked in a low voice, "Why did you come so suddenly?"

Shen Tian sighed softly, “Father’s health is deteriorating and he has not attended to state affairs for more than a month. Youyou is of marriageable age, and I am worried that if something happens to Father at this time, his marriage will be delayed for several years. So I can only come back to ask my sister-in-law for help to inquire.”

Su Tai's expression changed slightly. She didn't want to say anything, but seeing Shen Tian's worry, she gritted her teeth and said, "I don't think you can make decisions about Youyou's marriage. Instead of worrying about this, we should just live as before."

Shen Tian's pupils dilated, her heart pounded, and she instinctively grabbed Su Tai's hand. "Sister-in-law, you mean..."

Su Tai nodded to her and said in an even softer voice, "Shen Yi told me all this in secret. For the past three years, Youyou has been growing up in the palace. On the surface, he is accompanying the Empress, but the Emperor has made him participate in politics quite a bit. I guess he just doesn't dare to tell you. Just pretend you don't know anything."

"Okay, I understand!" Shen Tian stood up and solemnly bowed to Su Tai.

Su Tai quickly stepped aside.

She instructed Yu Mei to fetch some snacks and personally escorted Shen Tian out. Upon reaching the gate, she deliberately laughed loudly, "Your Highness, there's no need to worry. This child's appetite comes and goes. If the princess doesn't like taking medicine, then she won't eat it. These snacks were praised by the Emperor and Empress before. Perhaps the child's appetite will improve after eating them. If the princess likes them, Your Highness, please feel free to send someone to fetch them."